When Should I Transition My Toddler to A Big Bed?

Many parents wonder when is the perfect time to transition their baby from their crib into a toddler bed or regular bed.  As a mom, I can’t give you a perfect answer because each child is different and is ready to move into a regular bed at different ages.  You know your child best and can gauge when you think they may be ready to transition into a bigger bed.  Most children will transition to a bigger bed around 18 months to three and a half years old.

If Your Child is a Monkey and You are Worried About their Safety, It May Be Time to Make the Transition to A Big Bed

I remember that my oldest son would constantly crawl out of his crib anytime that he would wake up and I was afraid that my son was going to hurt himself.  I no longer felt safe leaving him in the crib and felt that it was time to transfer him to a big bed.  Before you decide to make the switch to a toddler bed, make sure that the crib mattress is on its lowest setting, which can make it more difficult to climb out of when the rails are up.  However, if your child is a monkey and can climb out of his or her crib when it is on the lowest possible setting, you may want to consider moving your child to a toddler bed for his or her safety.

Remove Safety Hazards from Their Room If You Transition Your Child to a Bigger Bed

When moving your child to a toddler bed, it is important that you make sure that your toddler’s room is safe so that they can’t hurt themselves.  A toddler bed allows your child the freedom to get up and roam around the house unsupervised, especially, if he or she is supposed to be sleeping at night and you are fast asleep.  If you still have a baby monitor handy, place it out of your toddler’s reach so that they can’t tangle themselves up in the cord.  The monitor will allow you to be able to hear when you child gets up out of bed and is moving around their room, so that you can go put them back to bed or allow them to come out of their room.  Ensure that you check these other safety issues in their room before you allow them to be unsupervised:

• Install plug covers on all electrical outlets.
• Secure the dresser to the wall so that if your child decides to climb, he or she doesn’t tip it over on themselves.
• Pick up all small items that could pose as a hazard to your child.
• Place a baby gate in their door way to prevent them from wondering around other parts of the house.
• Move items that can easily fall over and hurt your child such as, lamps, floor lamps, ect
• Put toys in the closet if you want to try and prevent your child from getting up to play when they are supposed to be sleeping.

Do You Have a New Addition Coming Soon and Need to Transition Your Toddler to a New Bed to Make Room for the New Baby?

Many parents transition their toddler to a new bed because they are expecting a new baby in a few months and need the crib for the new addition.  If you plan on transitioning your toddler to a new bed, it is best to ease them into the transition.  You should expect possible opposition from your toddler, especially, if they aren’t ready for the transition.  If possible, allow your child to lay in the new bed and sleep in it during nap time only so that they can get used to the idea slowly.  Begin the transition as soon as possible but no later than 6 to 8 weeks from your due date if you need the crib for the new baby.  Remember that a new baby can sleep in a bassinet for the first few months, so you have plenty of time getting your toddler to adjust to their new big girl/boy bed.